"Why are you all looking at me? I didn't say anything wrong here!" Snape felt extremely innocent. "Professor Hunter is just weak! And not only is she weak, but she's also brainless. She almost got us all attacked by the Acromantulas!"
"Enough, Professor Snape! You may not like Professor Eris, but please don't hurt others' feelings just because you think people like you. That's not kind at all!"
Professor McGonagall couldn't stand it anymore, either seeing or listening. She stared at Snape seriously and reminded him loudly.
"Professor McGonagall is right. Professor Snape, Delicate flowers need gentle nurturing and care. You can't treat them roughly. Otherwise, you won't get good results!"
Professor Sprout also voiced her agreement. Using the cultivation of herbs as an analogy, her words made Snape's face contort, his complexion alternating between green and white.
"Who said I want to have something going with her and 'bear fruit'?!"
Snape couldn't bear it any longer and let out a desperate roar.
"Humph! Professor Eris, don't mind him. I'll support you!"
Professor McGonagall gave Snape a disappointed look, then turned to Eris and said.
Then she was about to walk over to support Eris.
"Professor McGonagall, let me do it!"
Seeing this, Dudley's eyebrows twitched. Shouting, he rushed to Eris' side first and supported her arm.
"Teaching Assistant Dursley, what are you doing?"
Professor McGonagall asked in confusion, and the other professors were also puzzled. They clearly remembered that Dudley and Eris didn't have a very good relationship.
Dudley immediately explained to everyone:
"There's an old Chinese saying: 'When the teacher has something to do, students should do their best to help.'
Among the eight of us, I'm the only one with a student's identity, so let me support Professor Eris!"
In order to prevent Voldemort's main soul from having a sudden whim and attacking Professor McGonagall, who was off guard, Dudley timely made up an excuse and took on this difficult task.
"Looking at it this way, Teaching Assistant Dursley is much gentler than a certain professor!"
Out of indignation, Professor McGonagall took advantage of Dudley's action and made a sarcastic remark about Snape.
"Alright, stop arguing and wasting time. Let's go!"
Dumbledore, who was at the front, spoke up and stopped the dispute among everyone.
He understood everyone's reactions and really wanted to help them clear up the misunderstandings, but... he couldn't do it for the time being.
He could only let Snape suffer for a while!
The group started moving forward again.
Dudley supported Eris and kicked away the stick made from a silk scarf that Eris was holding in her other hand.
"Professor Eris, the other end of your silk scarf is dirty. You can't keep it! Come on, let's walk forward!"
Dudley preempted Eris and blocked her potential question with his words.
Then, under the approving gazes of Hagrid and the heads of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw houses, he forcefully supported Eris to the front of the group.
Dudley had a very thick skin and didn't feel embarrassed at all while supporting Eris.
On the contrary, Eris, who was carrying Voldemort's main soul and full of worries, stiffened a bit when Dudley supported her.
Eris knew that Dudley was a shrewd guy full of sly tricks, much more difficult to deal with than the easily deceived Professor McGonagall.
But she couldn't find a reason to break free from Dudley's enthusiastic support for the moment, so she had to submit temporarily and cast a reluctant glance back at Snape.
The deans of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw Houses also took action one after another and gave Snape a disdainful look before turning around.
Hagrid had a similar reaction. He was going to run to the front to lead the way. Before setting off, he said bluntly to Snape with a simple and honest look:
"Professor Snape, you should take a bath! You nearly knocked me out with that stench just now! The raw meat hanging on me has even absorbed your stench. I don't know if Aragog will still eat it."
Snape was even more devastated and on the verge of tears.
He felt that the whole world was against him and he couldn't stand this life any longer!
What was going on? Dudley, who had used the Cruciatus Curse, had become a gentle student, while he, a professor who always told the truth, had become a despised person in everyone's eyes!
How absurd!
Snape silently followed at the end of the line. He took out the deodorizing potion from his pocket again, removed the stinky aura around him, and blew out the nasal plugs from his nose.
...
The group was already not far from the Acromantula Nest. Led by Hagrid, they soon arrived at a huge depression filled with vines and fallen trees.
Giant Acromantulas could be seen coming and going everywhere here. Twisted and irregular huge vines grew on the tilted and rotten giant trees.
These vines didn't look very lively. It seemed that they had been deliberately transplanted by the Acromantulas. The growth direction of the vines was chaotic but also showed a bit of order, which was very suitable for the Acromantulas to climb up and down, forming many three - dimensional paths.
Now they were standing at the entrance of the largest and most spacious ground path in the middle. Looking forward along this path towards the bottom and the deepest part of the depression, they could see a huge, utterly dark cave.
"That's where Aragog lives!" Hagrid introduced to the group excitedly. "I've placed the trees and stones I prepared on the other side of the depression. After I have a word with Aragog, we can start work!"
"Go ahead, Hagrid!"
Professor Dumbledore said calmly.
Hearing this, Hagrid handed the rope of Fang to Dudley. Carrying a load of raw meat on his back, he walked towards the cave deep in the depression.
The others followed slowly and officially stepped into the Acromantula Nest deep in The Forbidden Forest.
Once inside the depression, the professors could more clearly feel the horror of the Acromantula clan.
Layers of wide, three - dimensional vines were full of huge, hideous Acromantulas scurrying back and forth. Each Acromantula had multiple pairs of eyes and constantly moving, disgusting mouthparts.
Moreover, most of the Acromantulas had already focused their attention on the group.
Hundreds of Acromantula mouthparts were dripping corrosive mucus at the same time, looking as if they had encountered a once - in - decades delicacy.
"Professor Dumbledore, are we really going to set up a training maze here? Even if the sixth - and seventh - year students come in groups, it'll be hard for them to stay alive!
Acromantulas love to eat human flesh. Will they really listen to Hagrid and obediently act as the guardians of the maze?"
As far as I'm concerned, these Acromantulas should all be eliminated! They're a huge danger to the students in the school!"
Professor McGonagall just couldn't figure it out and voiced her doubts.
At the same time, she cast the Muffliato charm to prevent the Acromantulas from eavesdropping.
Because these monsters could understand human speech, and their ancestor and leader, Aragog, could even speak human language.
Hagrid had told everyone about this beforehand.
"So, when setting up the maze, we need to impose restrictions on these Acromantulas. Moreover, we should leave plenty of safe areas for the students to take temporary shelter.
Besides, we need to train the students participating in the experience for a long time. Once the maze is in use, we need to keep a close watch on it and be ready to save students in life - threatening situations anytime!
As for getting rid of these Acromantulas, it's not necessary for now. Let the students participating in the experience naturally reduce the number of the Acromantula population.
I'll always pay attention to the risks. If necessary, I'll eliminate them myself."
Dumbledore had obviously made preparations in advance. He perfectly answered the questions raised by Professor McGonagall and dispelled the concerns of other professors.
He didn't arouse any suspicion from Eris and Voldemort's main soul, which was constantly watching the outside world through Eris' senses, regarding his intentions.
Since Dumbledore set the construction date a few days ago and clearly told Eris she didn't have to come.
It was Voldemort's main soul that forced Eris to come, just for the chance to get close to 'The Philosopher's Stone'.